Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual

The Government recognises the discrimination that many gay, lesbian and bisexual people (LGB) face in today's society and a lot of progress has been made in relation to developing legislation around sexual orientation.

Goods, Facilities and Services

On 30th April 2007, the Government brought forward legislation to tackle discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services on the grounds of sexual orientation.  This legislation was a major step forward in ensuring dignity, respect and fairness for all.  These measures help tackle the practical barriers and real, everyday problems faced by LGB people.

• These measures make sexual orientation discrimination unlawful in the provision of goods and services (e.g. shops & hotels), in the exercise of public    functions (e.g. in the delivery of health services), in education and in the rental or sale of premises.

• By introducing these measures the Government is providing protection from sexual orientation discrimination outside the workplace that is on a par with the protections provided on grounds of sex, race and Stopping religious discrimination.

• In order to protect practices that arise from basic doctrines of faith, the Regulations include an exemption for religious organisations, for whom complying with the Regulations could conflict with either the doctrine of the organisation, or the strongly-held views of a significant number of the religion's followers.

• However, where a religious organisation enters into an agreement to provide a service to the community on behalf of and under contract with a public authority, or on a commercial basis, that brings with it a wider social responsibility to serve the public as it is constituted - not pick and choose who will benefit or be served. In these circumstances the exemption will not apply.

• The Regulations apply to faith based adoption and fostering agencies who were given until the end of 2008 to adjust.

The Government published Guidance on both the Sexual Orientation Regulations and the Measures to Outlaw Discrimination on Grounds of Religion or Belief, which sets out practical advice on what the legislation means.

Civil partnership Act 2004

The Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into force on 5 December 2005 and enables same-sex couples to obtain legal recognition of their relationship. Couples who form a civil partnership have a new legal status, that of 'civil partner'.

Civil partners have equal treatment to married couples in a wide range of legal matters, including:

• employment benefits
• most state and occupational pension benefits
• tax, including inheritance tax
• income-related benefits, tax credits and child support
• duty to provide reasonable maintenance for your civil partner and any children of the family
• ability to apply for parental responsibility for your civil partner's child
• inheritance of a tenancy agreement
• recognition under intestacy rules
• access to fatal accidents compensation
• protection from domestic violence
• recognition for immigration and nationality purposes

For more information please see the document created by The Women and Equality Unit in December 2005 entitled "Civil Partnership - Legal Recognition for Same Sex Couples".

South West LGB Network

Equality South West supports and facilitates the South West LGB Equality Network.  Further details on the Network and its priorities for 2009 can be found on the SW LGB Network page.